Diverter for Toy Vehicle Track

Abstract

A toy vehicle playset includes a first track, a second track, a slot, and a diverter mechanism. The first track includes a first end and a second end. The second track includes a third end and a fourth end. The slot is disposed between the first end of the first track and the third end of the second track, where the first end is adjacent to the third end. The diverter mechanism is operatively coupled to the tracks and includes a diverter wall with a top edge and a first surface. The diverter wall is reconfigurable between a stowed position and a deployed position by sliding through the slot. In the stowed position, the top edge of the diverter wall is disposed within the slot and the first surface is unexposed. In the deployed position, the top edge is disposed above the slot and the first surface is exposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy vehicle playset, comprising:
 a first track with a first end and a second end;   a second track with a third end and fourth end, the third end of the second track being disposed adjacent to the first end of the first track;   a slot disposed between the first end of the first track and the third end of the second track; and   a diverter mechanism operatively coupled to the first track and the second track, the diverter mechanism comprising:
 a diverter wall having a top edge and a first surface, the diverter wall being reconfigurable between a stowed position and a deployed position where the diverter wall slides through the slot when repositioning between the stowed position and the deployed position, wherein the top edge is disposed within the slot and the first surface is unexposed when the diverter wall is in the stowed position, and the top edge is disposed above the slot and the first surface is exposed when the diverter wall is in the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter mechanism further comprises a lever. 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 2 , wherein actuation of the lever reconfigures the diverter wall between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 2 , wherein the diverter mechanism further comprises a linkage arm coupling the diverter wall to the lever. 
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter wall is biased to the stowed position. 
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter wall is biased to the deployed position. 
     
     
         7 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter wall in the deployed position directs a toy vehicle along the first track. 
     
     
         8 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 7 , wherein the diverter wall in the stowed position directs a toy vehicle along the second track. 
     
     
         9 . A toy vehicle playset, comprising:
 a first track section having a first end and a second end;   a second track section having a third end and a fourth end, the third end of the second track section being disposed adjacent to the first end of the first track section;   a slot disposed between the first end of the first track section and the third end of the second track section; and   a diverter mechanism disposed proximate to the first track section and the second track section, the diverter mechanism comprising:
 a diverter wall being repositionable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the diverter wall sliding through the slot when the diverter wall moves between the stowed position and the deployed position, the diverter wall being disposed within the slot in the stowed position, and a portion of the diverter wall extends above a surface of the first track section when the diverter wall is in the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter mechanism further comprises a lever. 
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 10 , wherein actuation of the lever reconfigures the diverter wall between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 10 , wherein the diverter mechanism further comprises a linkage arm coupling the diverter wall to the lever. 
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter wall is biased to the stowed position. 
     
     
         14 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter wall is biased to the deployed position. 
     
     
         15 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter wall in the deployed position directs a toy vehicle along the first track section. 
     
     
         16 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 15 , wherein the diverter wall in the stowed position directs a toy vehicle along the second track section. 
     
     
         17 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 9 , wherein the diverter wall has a top edge and a first surface, the diverter wall sliding through the slot when the diverter wall moves between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 17 , wherein the top edge is disposed within the slot and the first surface is unexposed when the diverter wall is in the stowed position, and the top edge is disposed above the slot and the first surface is exposed when the diverter wall is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . A toy vehicle playset, comprising:
 a track for a toy vehicle, the track having a first track section and a second track section adjacent to the first track section, the first track section having a first end and the second track section having a second end, the track including a slot between the first end of the first track section and the second end of the second track section; and   a diverter mechanism operatively coupled to the track, the diverter mechanism being located between the first end of the first track section and the second end of the second track section, the diverter mechanism including a wall having a top edge and being movable through a slot in the track between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the top edge is disposed within the slot when the wall is in the stowed position, and the top edge is disposed above the slot when the wall is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         20 . The toy vehicle playset of  claim 19 , wherein the diverter mechanism includes a lever that is moved to cause the wall to move between the stowed position and the deployed position.